The Bobcat Nation

...when a Bobcat offense can rack up around 500 yards and 41 points...

and lose.



Between our invisible 3-4 defense, our unreliable (apparently) kickoff coverage and some less-than-stellar game management, I'm absolutely amazed that we were actually in this game.

Members of the QB club, I sincerely hope at least one of you will ask Coach Kramer some/all of the following questions at your next meeting:

1) What SPECIFIC reasons are there why our defense is so weak? If our deficiencies have anything to do with injury, why is there such a dropoff? Why is our depth not better?

2) How SPECIFICALLY are the 2 Coach K's going to improve our pass rush? We made the worst QB in the league look like Peyton Manning yesterday. How SPECIFICALLY are we going to stop the Griz running attack when we play them?

3) How difficult is it to find someone who can kick the ball inside the TEN? Yes, I know we should have higher standards than that, but right now I'll settle for the ten! Why is our kick cover team so bad that we have to play like EVERY kick is going to be returned for a score?

4) Please explain to me how in the world a team can get a delay of game on a routine punt? Please ask EVERYONE in the room the last time they saw a team burn a timeout BEFORE RECEIVING A KICKOFF? Please explain to me why we get at least 4 delay of game penalties each & every game? Please explain to me why our QB is playing "Beat the Clock" on seemingly every other play?

5) Does Coach think that perhaps he's spending TOO much time running around the state, attending all the functions he does every week? Does it negatively affect his ability to prepare for upcoming games? Would the boosters/QB club members CARE if he scaled back his appearances a bit?

Go ahead and print these questions out and take them with you. Those of you who know me, you have my permission to tell Coach who asked them because the next time we talk, I intend to address each one of them with him. I think we have the right as fans and DONORS to have some of these issues addressed.

We just dug ourselves a big hole yesterday; we now MUST beat NAU, SAC, and the Griz to have a shot at the post-season. Based on how we played yesterday, I find it unlikely that we beat Eastern in which case the Eagles WILL win (or at worst share) the conference championship and most likely the auto-bid. IF we finish 7-3 (throwing out the OSU game), there is a SLIM possibility that we'd get invited to the playoffs but our first game would certainly AGAIN be on the road.

I simply can't believe that our special teams and defense have fallen this far, this fast...

I was disappointed in the defense last night. It seems that when we had a chance to stop PSU's offense, especially in the 4th, we choked..Our offense finally got it going which is great. But we need a defense to balance it out. I just wish when we have a chance to take the lead in the conference, that we take advantage of it...similar to last year..

What amazes me is we only have one maybe two players making tackles when a runner gets by the line of scrimmage. What happened to the gang tackling that we used to be known for? I think we have some pampered players that quit on some plays if they feel they can't make the initial hit. It's no secret that the coaches have some favorites that "can do no wrong". They need to tighten the rains and maybe start playing some people that give an honest effort on every play! DON'T GET ME WRONG THERE ARE SEVERAL THAT GIVE 100%, but there are enough that don't go out of their way to make plays to make the defense ineffective.

Also I have my doubts about coach Linder. Ever since he took over the D-line they have diminished in their effectiveness. Their technique is sloppy and from what I've heard from some parents...the players listen to him less and less all the time because he's verbally abusive without anything constructive to say...no teaching, just a lot of yelling!

I agree, some of the cat defensive players are really starting to play less fundamentally sound, some have been playing this way all season, but only now it is starting to really cost them games, and the coaches are getting upset about it, maybe they should have fixed it weeks ago instead of waited until it cost them a game

Helcat, I said that about LInder's awhile back. I just don't think he can get them motivated to move em out. All I saw working was Mac, Grenfell, Force, Fuller. Where the hell are the rest of them? Having a snack??

El Gato-
I see your point asking some of the questions that you have, but I would have to completely disagree with your fifth question. Kramer’s trips around the state have played a big part in re-establishing Bobcat interest in Montana. He has significantly increased support in Montana and that has been made possible from his continuous dedication to reach out to all of Montana. I would consider his constant travels being one of the main factors of the increased interest in Bobcat football. I would never question Kramer’s efforts or intentions in this category. I would also like to add that I doubt Kramer ever misses any practices because of his scheduled booster meetings. Over the three years that I played for Kramer, I only remember him missing one practice.

mquast53000 wrote:El Gato-
I see your point asking some of the questions that you have, but I would have to completely disagree with your fifth question. Kramer’s trips around the state have played a big part in re-establishing Bobcat interest in Montana. He has significantly increased support in Montana and that has been made possible from his continuous dedication to reach out to all of Montana. I would consider his constant travels being one of the main factors of the increased interest in Bobcat football. I would never question Kramer’s efforts or intentions in this category. I would also like to add that I doubt Kramer ever misses any practices because of his scheduled booster meetings. Over the three years that I played for Kramer, I only remember him missing one practice.

Good point Mquast. He needs to keep the traveling going because I can tell you this, Montana ( UM) is beginning to feel the recruiting heat he is putting on. Games are won on the field and in the field (recruiting). The Griz do not like Hauck because of his recruiting that they feel is subpar compared to Kramer. If BHauck goes it will be because the Cat/Griz recruiting game was won in state by Kramer.

First of all, I did not say he WAS travelling too much, I merely posed the question; but it IS something I've heard from a # of others.

PLUS, I DON'T think it would hurt anything if Kramer cut his weekly QB Club commitments in half (go to each meeting every other week instead of every week). IF I were in the QB Club, it would not bother me at all to see Coach scale back a little if it would benefit the team.

Just a few random observations.

Our kickoff is custom made for generous returns..on many levels. When our next opponent looks at film they will be drooling.

Bolton will be playing on Sunday...no question.

Our defense gets much better when Big Lou moves into the middle.

Because of the relative lack of speed on the defensive line, and the speed of our linebackers, misdirection kills us. We end up with zero containment.

Our tackling was unsatisfactory. PSU's starting running back was injured and his replacement came in and looked like Emmitt Smith. He basically ran through our entire defense everytime he got the ball.

Ditto El Gato on clock management. I happened to be sitting among the PSU faithful and even they were incredulous.

Gatewood was something special Saturday night.

I don't know how we can solve our pass rushing problem working out of a 3-4 with the folks we have. When we send help (any blitz combination) we get burned.

I'm really conflicted about the Lulay "rolling punt" routine. When it works it's okay. And it does have the added dimension of being able to fake, but when it fails horrible things happen.

Saturday night the Bobcat offense reminded me of the old Super Dave griz. No huddle, lots and lots of short passing routines. It was fun to watch with basically huge results. The defense reminded me of the 1986 Solmonson Bobcats when opponents ran up and down the field at will.

I kept reminding myself that PSU is a fine team; seemingly getting better every week. They basically handled Boise State the week before. Saturday night it came down to whoever had the ball last was going to win.

Speaking as a former player with some coaching experience this team has the potential to be extremely good down the stretch. If I were an opponents DC I would be very concerned. Defense and special teams needs work and re-work.

RainCat



I'd agree with most everything you said. How do you neutralize an agressive Defense? Screen, draw and misdirection. I'm not necessarily lableing our Defense as overly agressive, just the same, PSU did a very good job of taking advantage of our pursuit to the ball.

I was very dissapointed in our in ability to maintain outside contain as well. Time after time we'd see PSU backs start into the line only to bounce it outside for big yards.

As for the roll punt, I like it. It forces the receiving team into a defensive posture and gives (most of the time) the advantage to the punt team. Not to mention the time our opponent must take out of their practice to prepare for it. As to the block, my observation was that Travis had an off night. If you'll recall, all his punts were low line drives. One even worked in our favor.

With regard to the pass rush, we're going to have to take chances with our blitz scheme. We have to send more guys at the QB than they can handle. If we don't, we'll get picked apart all night. As I read elsewhere, we're making bad QB's look good, good QB's look great and great QB's...

catsrback76 wrote:The Griz do not like Hauck because of his recruiting that they feel is subpar compared to Kramer.

WOW

Our defense did play poorly, but the offense and kicking game gave PSU great field position the whole 4th quarter.

I was very disappointed on the possession where we had the punt blocked. I believe it was that drive where we were moving the ball, one or two plays from field goal range and we threw deep on first down. It was incomplete, stopped the clock, and allowed PSU to bring everyone to the line and blitz the next two plays. Two incompletions later the punt is blocked.

Every time we had to throw they were blitzing. Yea they gave up some yards but also got 3 sacks and caused a fumble. At the end of the game we rush 3 and still give them a 15 yard gain. If we are going to do that we might as well rush 3, put two on the goal line and spread the other 5 to the outside so they can't get out of bounds or into the endzone. Then we could of at least ran out the clock and gone to OT. Why is our middle so wide open.

2Cats: That bounce to the outside is often a planned play, set up by running inside the tackles until the defensive line and/or outside linebackers start closing down to help out.
It's simple discipline...from the time you play Little Guy football you learn somebody has outside responsiblility on every play. The 3-4 makes that tough for a DL to do, so often it has to be a linebacker or even a DB coming up. But then once you get there you have to TACKLE somebody.

SausageCrotch wrote:

catsrback76 wrote:The Griz do not like Hauck because of his recruiting that they feel is subpar compared to Kramer.

WOW

I've NEVER heard a Griz fan say anything close to that. Any evidence?

GFGriz wrote:

SausageCrotch wrote:

catsrback76 wrote:The Griz do not like Hauck because of his recruiting that they feel is subpar compared to Kramer.

WOW

I've NEVER heard a Griz fan say anything close to that. Any evidence?

what....griz fans never say anything remotely close to wow??

RainCat,

Your probably right. But time after time PSU's entire Oline would zone block down one man and either our DE or OLB would chase the blockers leaving the end wide open. No one was staying at home. But this was only one of a number of problems.

On the upside, as a whole wasn't our Offense fun to watch?

2Cats: I have honestly never been this comfortable with our offensive ability to bring us back no matter what the score. We were tougher on ourselves than Portland State was. Lulay simply exudes so much confidence and poise you always feel he has things well in hand....time clock issues not withstanding